Woman vegetable entrepreneur Rai bags cooperative’s award

Tikadevi Rai, a resident of Jhapa, whose livelihood is depended on the vegetable farming, has been awarded the ‘Prof Mohammad Yunus Sahara Prize’. The Charpane-based Sahara Nepal Savings and Credits Cooperatives honoured vegetable famer and entrepreneur Rai with the annual prize carrying a purse of Rs 51,000.

She is associated with the Jagriti Sahara Women Group formed under the Sanischare Service Center and was awarded on the occasion of the Cooperative’s 23rd anniversary.

State 1 minister for economic affairs and planning Indra Angbo and Cooperatives chair Tara Prasad Sanjel jointly handed the cash prize to her.

According to Cooperatives secretary and executive chief Mahendra Kumar Giri, the award is given to its woman member (entrepreneur) proving oneself economically independent.

The cooperatives’ share capital in fiscal year 2018/19 was Rs 1.249 billion and the goal is to increase it to Rs 1.62 billion in the current fiscal. The total savings of the cooperatives is Rs 4.616 billion. Likewise, the cooperatives’ total income was Rs 1.56 billion and the expenditure was Rs 1.20 billion in fiscal year 2018/19. The net profit of the cooperatives is Rs 360 million.

Rai’s earning from vegetable farming is in the range of Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per month. "Sahara has remembered me after many years of my association in it as a member. I have got the prestigious prize. I am very delighted," Rai said.